Issues ▷ Reggie Mantle

FOUR

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈

FOUR; ROSES FOR MY ROSE

     "BETTY KNOWS? How the hell does Betty know?"

     Jughead sighed, running his hand down his face in frustration. "We were interviewing Dilton Doiley, and he told us he had a better story than the one about his gun shot. I didn't know he would talk about Grundy, Kalani, I swear."

     Kalani chewed on her bottom lip. "Well, I'm actually glad Betty knows. She'll do some action that I was unable to."

     Their voices silenced when Betty returned to the booth with milkshakes. Veronica and Kevin took a seat across from them. Kalani brought up the first topic of conversation, brushing off the fact that Betty now knew about Grundy being present during the Fourth of July incident. "So, did you guys hear about the drive-in closing?"

     "The drive-in closing is just one more nail in the coffin that is Riverdale. No, forget Riverdale, in the coffin of the American dream," Jughead spat, obviously angry at the fact that the local Twilight Drive-In was shutting down. "As the godfather of indie cinema, Quentin Tarantino, likes to say-"

     "Please, God, no more Quentin Tarantino references," Kevin requested.

     "What? I'm pissed. And not just about losing my job. The Twilight Drive-In should mean something to us. People should be trying to save it," Jughead stammered.

     "In this age of Netflix and VOD, do people really want to watch a movie in a car? I mean, who even goes there?" Veronica asked, not realizing she would be hitting a sore spot with Jughead.

     "People who want to buy crack," Kevin answered.

     "And cinephiles, and car enthusiasts," Jughead argued. "Right, Bets?"

     He glanced at Betty for help, but the girl looked like she was in deep thought. Kalani hoped it was about Grundy, and that Betty had a plan set in motion already. "Totally," the blonde responded. Kevin and Veronica raised an eyebrow, noticing she wasn't even following the conversation.

     "Anyway, it's closing because the town owns it, but didn't invest in it. So when an anonymous buyer made Mayor McCoy an offer, she couldn't refuse," Jughead rambled.

     Veronica laughed dryly. "Anonymous buyer? What do they have to hide? No one cares."

     "I do!" Jughead said in offense. "Also, you guys should all come to closing night. I'm thinking American Graffiti or is that too obvious?"

     "I vote anything starring Audrey Hepburn or Cate Blanchett," Veronica said.

     "Or The Talented Mr. Ripley," Kevin added.

     Kalani rolled her eyes. "Guys, obviously Disney movies are the best. I mean, I'm recommending Lemonade Mouth, a hit classic."

     "Betty, your choices?"

     The girl came out of her trance, confused as to what Kevin just asked her. "Everything okay, B?" Veronica asked, concerned.

     "Yeah, I'm just thinking. Maybe Rebel Without a Cause?" Betty's suggestion caused Jughead to smile and look over at her.